Metal awning or like structure



y 7, 1953 J. MCCORMACK EI'AL 2,644,207

METAL AWNING 0R LIKE STRUCTURE Filed April 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 a rwvntou dorm L. MGCoRMAcK JosEPH L..WHITE ly 7, 1953 J. M CORMACK EI'AL 2,644,207

METAL AWNING 0R LIKE STRUCTURE Filed April 19, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmenvbo'u JOHNC- MQCORMAQK JOSEPH Lwm'rr;

M x W Patented July 7, 1953 METAL AWNING R LIKE STRUCTURE John C. McCormack, Pensacola, Fla., and Joseph 1 L. White, Montgomery, Ala., assignors to Four- Way Awning Compan poration of Florida y, Pensacola, Fla. a cor- Application April 19, 1948, Serial No; 21,984

This invention relates to metal awnings and similar structures.

Metal awnings are coming into quite general use to replace canvas awnings, canopies, etc. Metal awnings are advantageous over prior types of'awnings and similar structures because of their attractive appearance, permanence, and low upkeep costs. However, most metal awnings and canopies available on the market at the present time are relatively expensive to build and .as-

4 Claims. (Cl. 2057.5)

semble, due to the substantial number of parts involved, which require the performance of a number of stamping operations and numerous labor operations in the assembly of'the parts. The surface structures themselves, for example the roof portion of an awning or canopy, and the side walls of such structures, usually are fabricated from a substantial number of parts in order to provide for proper ventilation of the interior of the awning or canopy.:

An important object of the present invention is to provide a simplified and particularly attractive type of awning or like structure wherein each surface portion thereof, specifically the roof portion and side walls, is formed of a single sheet of substantially imperforate material, thus rendering the cost of manufacture of the structure relatively economical.

A further object is to provide such a structure wherein the roof and side walls are similarly formed from solid sheet material and wherein the wall structures thus formed are capable of being bent in one direction into convex or concave form, depending upon the type of installation desired.

A further object is to provide such a structure wherein the wall or sheet elements are crimped in the same manner from flat sheet material regardless of whether the wall element thus formed is to be relatively flat, or is to be curved convexly or concavely. A further object is to provide anawning or canopy structure of the type referred'to wherein Other objects and advantages in the invention will become apparent during the course ofthe following description.

In this showingv H Figure 1 is a perspective View of an awning constructed in accordance with the present vention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail sec}- tional view taken substantially on'line 2+2 of Figure 1. I g V x Figure 3 is a similar view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure a is a transyerse vertical sectionalview through the awning. 7 Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 5'5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a; similar view on line [of Figure 4. I I Figure '7 is a similar view on line 'll of Figure and I Figure 8 is a similar view on Figure 4.' V

Referring generally to Figurel, it will be noted that the awning or like structure embodyingthe present invention comprises'a roof sheet ill) and side wall sheets I I, these sheets being rolled from he ie-s bi,

flat sheet material, for example aluminum to' form steps [2 connected to each other by what the interior of the structure is adequately ventilated in a novel manner to prevent the accumulation of heated air within the structure while substantially completely preventing theentrance of rain thereinto.

A further object is to provide-a structure of the character discussed above wherein the formation of the sheet to form the roof unit of an awnin or canopy provides the resultant sheet With substantial beam strength from side to side, thus permitting an awning or the like of substantial width to be manufactured and installed without the use of roof-supporting means between the sides of the structure.

might be termed risers I 3. In forming the side walls II, the stepped sheet thus formed maybe made relatively flat in the sense'that the lower edges of the steps I 2 lie in a'common plane. .The shaping of the roof sheet ll] depends'uponthe particular installation and on the particular "deg sign desired for such installation. For example}; the sheet may be bent transversely of the 'steps as shown-in Figure 1 to form 'a concave roof sheet which, together with the stepped formation of the roof sheet, forms an awning which presents a particularly attractive appearance when in stalled on a-building. It will be obvious that the w roof sheet may partake of any desired curve the roof sheet is then laid up on the channels l5 and preferably riveted thereto as at It (Figure 1), the rivets passing through the upper portions of a skirt 20 formed by bending the forward edge of the roof sheet downwardly. For the purpose of imparting decoration and rigidity, the skirt 20 is preferably angularly bent as at 2i above the lower limits of the channel ends [9 to which the skirts may be riveted as at 22. To further enhance its ornamental appearance, the skirt 20 is preferably notched at spaced intervals throughout its length as at 23.

Adjacent its lower edge, each side wall II is preferably. bent somewhat as at 25, in a manner similar to the bending of the skirt 20 as at 2!, to increase the rigidity of the side. sheets and to increase the attractiveness of their appearance. The side sheets are also preferably notched as at 26 to. further. improve the ornamental appearance thereof. 'At the back edge of each side sheet. II is provided a vertical structural supporting element 28 (Figures 4 and 8) preferably in the form of an angle iron adapted to be bolted or otherwise. suitablysecured to the supporting surface 29, usually the outer face of the wall of the building. Adjacent its lower point, each step of each side wall is preferably rivetedlasat 35 to the adjacent supporting channel 28, and at their opposite ends, the steps are riveted to the channels I5 as at 3I-. It will be noted that no horizontal structural elements are employed with the construction; the stepped formation of the side Walls II providing such walls with substantial horizontal beam strength so as not to-require the use of structural elements. It incidentally may be noted that the roof sheet. I requires no structural elements except the end channels I which. determine the curvatureof the roof, the bending of the metal. to form the steps of the. roof imparting a. high degree .of horizontal beam strength thereto.

In forming the side walls .I I, the finished wall iscut on a curved line corresponding to the curvature of the channels I5 to provide upper side wall edges 32, as shown in Figure 7, and since only the low points of the steps I2 of the roof contact with the channels I5, each step of. the roof at opposite sides thereof provides within the angle of the step a ventilating opening 33. These openings permit the escape of warm air from the sidesof .the awning, thus. greatly assistingin ventilating. it and. preventing the accumulation of heated masses of air within the awning.

.A water shed in the form of a flashing plate 35 is arranged at the top of the awning. The formationof the water shed and its connection to the roof sheet I0 are shown in detail in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The flashing 35 has its main body portion 36 inclined from the horizontal as shown in Figures-2 and 3, the upper edge portion of the flashing extending vertically as at 3! and being bent back upon itself as at 38 to provide the flange portion 37 with additional strength. The portion 31 is secured in any suitable manner, for example by screws or the like, to the supporting structure 29.

. At the lower end of the portion 35 of the water shed, the metal thereof extendsdownwardly vertically. as. at 39, and then is .bent upwardly as-at 40 against the portion 39, and then upwardly as at 50 to provide a sheet portion underlying the inclined flashing 36. At the upper end of the portion 50, the flashing sheet is bent downwardly and inwardly at an angle as at 5!, substantially perpendicular to the portion 50, and the extremity of the sheet is bent back upon itself as channel forms a support for securing in position at 52 to form a flange spaced from the sheet por- The flange 5 2 and sheet portion 5I are notched as at 53 from the extremity of the flange 52 to a-point adjacent the sheet portion 50. These 7 notches are spaced apart and cooperate with notches formed in the roof sheet I8 in a manner to be describedto form ventilating openings.

At the upper end of the uppermost step of the roof, the sheet forming the roof is bent upwardly and outwardly as at 55, then downwardly and inwardly to form a flange 56, both of these elements being parallel to the flashing sheet portions 5| and 52 to be interlocked therewith the finished structure as shown in Figure 2.. The flange initially formed by the roof sheet por tions 55 and 56"is notched as at 5'! from the extremity of the flange 55 to a point 58 spaced above the body of the roof sheet. The notches 51 thus formed coincide with the notches 53 to form ventilating openings indicated by the .nu-' meral 59 in Figures 1, 3, and 5. The. leadline of the numeral 55 in Figure 3 has been termi: nat'ed adjacent the opening which it. represents to avoid confusing the numeralindicating the ventilating opening With'the numeralslindic ating the notches in the roof and flashingsheets. It.

will be apparent that each opening 59. is in direct communication with the interior of the awning adjacent the. top thereof to permit the flow of heated air. from the interior of the awn! ing. The termination .of the notches 51 at the sheet portions 5]] as. clearly shown Figure 5 to form rain stops to prevent adriving rain from entering the interior of theiawning.

Operation The operation of the awning willbe obvious from the foregoing description. The stepped formation of the side walls provides such walls with lateralbeam strength to eliminate the necessity for the use of horizontal structural members. to add rigidity to such walls. The formationof the roof sheet in the stepped arrangement shown not only provides the roof with substantial beam strength to eliminate the necessity for structural supporting means between the side walls, but also permits the roof sheet to be curved to any desired depending upon the installation. or thev particular desires of the purchaser. For example, in the making of'window. awnings, the concave curvature as illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 is desirable to eliminate any bulky appearance in the awning. If the structure is 'to be embodied in a canopy, it may be desired'to curve the roof sheet If] in a convex manner, particularly where two sides are to extend from a crownsheet corresponding to the doubling'ofthe water shed 35. The structure of the roof sheet in such case will be initially exactly the same as thatillustratedthe only difference being in the bending of the sheets transversely of the steps into the desired curved formation.

In assembling the structure; each side wall II is riveted or otherwise secured to its structural members I5 and 28. For windows of different sizesin a given building, all of the side walls may be identical and assembled in the: same manner.-

The only difference in the roof sheets and flash- 1 V ings will be in the lengths of these elements as determined by the window sizes. It is not necessary to preform the roof sheet to a given curvature, since such curvature will be determined by the channels I5. A roof sheet is cut off to proper length and formed-at its upper end into the portions 55 and 56 which are notched as at 51, whereupon the water shed sheet 35 is notched, crimped, and-'rolled-to rigidly'connect it to the upper edge of the roof sheet. This may be done while the flashing sections 36 and 39 are flat, whereupon the section 36 may be bent down over the section 50 to form the completed assembly of elements. The roof sheet is then assembled with respect to the side walls by riveting it or similarly securing the end portions of the roof sheet to the channels [5 and'by securing the skirt20 to the channel ends [9 as at 22.

.In Figure '7 it will be noted that the roof sheet preferablygprojects somewhat beyond the high .points of the steps l2 of the side walls ll. When the side wall sheets are out along the line 32 corresponding to the curvature of the upper outer edge of the channel l5, therefore, all portions of the edges 32 of the side walls will lie inwardly of the side edges of the roof, thus substantially preventing the entrance of Water into the awning through the ventilating openings 33.

Particular attention is also invited to the assembly and shaping of the roof sheet In and flashing sheet 35. The sheet portions 35 and 40 form a depending protecting lip to minimize the amount of rain which will reach the plane of the water stop 58, which is spaced 'a substantial distance from the lip formed by the portions 39 and 40. Any rain finding its way as far back as the crimped connection between the roof sheet and flashing sheet 35 necessarily will lie on the sloping portion of the roof sheet, and the rain stop 60 acts to prevent a driving wind from forcing rain on the roof sheet from passing through the ventilating openings 59. These openings are of substantial size and, together with the openings 33, adequately ventilate the interior of the awning without permitting the entrance of water into the awning.

The main sheet elements of the structure, namely, the roof sheet and side wall sheets, are substantially imperforate and are individually unitary, thus simplifying the awning structure and eliminating substantial labor in assembling separate elements. The stepped formation of the side walls and roof in a horizontal direction adds substantial beam strength to the roof and side wall sheets transversely thereof. Moreover, the stepped formation greatly enhances the appearance of the awning or canopy both directly and indirectly by permitting the elimination of any bulky appearance in the awning through the curving of the roof sheet. The stepping of the roof sheet is further advantageous in that it permits ordinary flat sheet stock to be crimped in the same machine for use as awning and canopy sheets regardless of the curvature thereof.

In its preferred construction, the awning preferably includes the end walls II for the purpose of improving the appearance of the awning, preventing the entrance of water thereinto and for forming a rigid connection between the roof sheet and the structural elements 28. If desired, how ever, the end wall sheets may be eliminated, in which case the lower end of the roof sheet will be connected to the lower end of the structural element 28 to form spacing means. This may be such specific use, but may be embodied in other 6' done merely by employing the lower portion of each side wall, for example up to the lower edge of the first flat stepil2.

It will be obvious that while the present invention has been illustrated as an awning for a window or the like, the invention is not limited to analogous structures such as terrace roofs, side walk canopies, etc. Where theterm awning is used in the claims, therefore, it isto be undersheet, said roof sheet being bent horizontally at spaced points from its normal shape to provide the sheet with substantial beam strength trans-g versely thereof and being free of support between said structural supports, said roof sheet having an inner end adapted to be arranged adjacent a supporting structure, and a flashing sheet arranged over and projecting beyond'the inner end of said end'thereof and secured thereto, said roof sheet being formed in horizontal steps to provide it with a substantial degree of beam strength transversely of thesheet, said roof sheet having a lower outer end and an upper inner end, and a flashing sheet arranged over such inner end, said flashing sheet and the inner end of said roof sheet having interconnecting portions fixing them together and provided with .ventilating openings, said flashing sheet extending over the inner end of said roof sheet substantially beyond said ventilating openings.

3. An awning comprising a metal sheet inclined from the horizontal to provide an upper inner edge and-a lower outer edge, said sheet being bent along horizontal lines to form steps,

all of which slope downwardly from the horizontal away from the inner edge of said roof sheet, a pair of structural roof supports beneath the side edges of said roof sheet and secured thereto at the deeper portions of certain of said steps,. said steps imparting a substantial degree of horizontal rigidity to said roof sheet and the roof sheet possessing asubstantial degree of flexibility transversely of said steps to adapt it to assume the shape of said supports, side walls for said awning having their upper edges terminating adjacent the deeper portions of said'steps whereby the spaces within said steps are open to the outside to ventilate the interior of the awning, a flashing sheet arranged above the inner edge of said roof sheet, said flashing sheet and said roof sheet having inter-connected portions securing them to each other and provided.

zontal away from the inneredge of: said roof. sheet, a pair of structurairoof supportsbeneath the side edges of said roof sheet-and secured thereto at the deeper portions of certainof said steps, said steps imparting a substantial degree of. horizontal rigidity to said roof sheet and the roof sheet possessing a substantial degree of flexibility transversely of; said steps to adapt it to assume the shape of said supports, side Walls for said awning having their upper edge terminating adjacent the deeperportions of said steps whereby the spaces Within saidsteps-are open to the outside to ventilate the inter-iors-of- -the awning, vertical structural elements, arranged beneath the inner edge of said roof sheet, said side walls being connected to said structural elementsand being bent horizontally in a stepped formation to provide said sidewalls With beam strength, a flashing sheet arranged above the inner edge of said roof sheet, said flashing sheet and said roof sheet having interconnected p01:

tions securing them to each other and provided 8. with. ventilating. openings said .-flash ing ,,,sheet extending substantially beyondsaid ventilating openings and said roofisheet being provided with portions extending upwardlyito definehthe. bottoms of said ventilating openings and forming rain stops.

JOHN C. MCCORMACK.

JOSEPH L. WHITE;

References Cited. in the file of this patent I UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date D. 153,622 Peeples May 3, 1946;

D. 153,997 Trent May 31, 19.49 876,098 'Savery Jan. 7, 1908 1,176,080 Miller Mar. 21, 1916 1,926,609 ,Bauschard Sept. 12,1933 2,093,860 Austin sept...21, 1937 2,109,920 Hawksworth Mar. 1, 1938 2,394,736 Adelsperger Feb..12 1946 2,441,031 Perry et a1 May 4, 1948 

